Report: Fire engines poorly maintained

CAPE CORAL: A scathing new report says Cape Coral fire trucks are on the verge of breaking down. The report details what was discovered when Lee County workers inspected four city of Cape Coral fire engines.

"Leaking radiators don't hold pressure. You have frayed wires, emergency lights that don't light," said Cape Coral City Council member Bill Deile.

That's just a few of many problems outlined in the consultant's report.

The problems pose safety hazards not just to the firefighters, but to the general public as well.

"To me these are the most important vehicles the city has," said Deile.

The repairs will cost the city between $50,000 and $100,000 for four trucks.

The rest of the fleet is headed to Lee County for inspections as well.

How did the trucks get to be in such bad shape?

"I'm not going to point fingers at anyone. There was a lack of management, oversight and control that led to this," said Cape Coral City Manager Gary King

King says the city's Fleet Management Division is responsible for keeping the trucks running.

He says they didn't do their jobs.

"We've already taken some very aggressive measures," said King.

To offer more accountability, the Fleet Management Division has been reorganized.

It was once under the Public Works Department.

It's now under the Finance Department.

King is considering outsourcing the entire Fleet Management Division so all the maintenance on the city's cars would be done by private companies.

"We've put out a request for an RFI from a few companies to look at what they can do for us," said King.